Robots Could Soon Replace Nearly a Third of the U.s. Workforce

A new study suggests the rising tide of automation will force as many as 70 million workers in the U.S. to find another way to earn a living.

Credit: The Washington Post

The growth of automation will force as many as 70 million workers in the U.S. to find new jobs by 2030, according to a new McKinsey Global Institute study, which predicts nearly a third of the American workforce could soon need to develop new skills or change their field of work.

The study found the jobs most at risk involve repetitive tasks, and notes about half the duties workers handle globally could be automated, although less than 5% of occupations could be entirely taken over by computers.

The study also found that the need for people doing "predictable physical work," such as construction equipment installation and repair, car detailing, security guarding, and dishwashing and food preparation will fall by 30%.

Around the world, other advanced economies such as Germany and Japan will see at least a third of their workforce similarly disrupted, while China's workforce decline will be around 12 percent.